Unearthed by a farmer in 1830, a spectacular hoard dedicated to Mercury in northern France contains some of the finest Roman silver to survive from classical antiquity. Kenneth Lapatin, curator of the exhibition Ancient Luxury and the Roman Silver Treasure from Berthouville, examines this rare votive deposit and what it reveals about religion, culture, and technology.

About Kenneth Lapatin
Kenneth Lapatin is a curator at the Getty Villa. He is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Oxford, and has a particular interest in the luxury arts of Greece and Rome, as well as historiography and forgery. In addition to Ancient Luxury and the Roman Silver Treasure from Berthouville, he has curated exhibitions on Pompeii and its modern reception, Greek and Roman gems and their afterlife, and special techniques on Athenian vases. Power and Pathos: Bronze Sculpture of the Hellenistic World (co-curated with Jens Daehner) will open at the Getty Center in July, 2015. He is also the author of Chryselephantine Statuary in the Ancient Mediterranean World; Mysteries of the Snake Goddess: Art, Desire, and the Forging of History; Ancient Greece: Art, Architecture, and History; and the Guide to the Getty Villa. His most recent book, Luxus: The Sumptuous Arts of Greece and Rome, is currently in press.

Planning your visit
The main gate on Pacific Coast Highway opens to ticketed guests at 6:00 p.m. The auditorium opens at 7:00 p.m., and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests arriving late will be seated at the discretion of Getty staff. The galleries and Getty Store will be open before and after the lecture. A selection of light "grab 'n go" dinner fare as well as beer and wine are available for purchase at the Café until 7:30 p.m. Complimentary refreshments will be served following the lecture.

How to Get Here
The Getty Villa is located at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, approximately 25 miles west of downtown Los Angeles. See Hours, Directions, Parking for directions and parking information.